Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-06-10
QUEER BURIAL RITES.
How Ponca Indiaus Disposed of the
BODY of "a Chief-Sport and sorrow.

no" blspbstu
Body Of "a Chief-sport and sorrow.
Wa-si-ka, head chief of the PonCa In
dians, tribe living in the territory just
south of here, died recently and was
buried with all the pomp and ceremony
known to the tribe. His body was taken
On blanket from his tepee by his squaW
and three children and placed in a wagon
drawn by two horses, which the widow
guided. This was the Indian hearse.
Behind this followed nearly 800 buCks
and squaws--the former on horseback aud
the latter trOtting along on foot. All the
way 10 the burying ground the widows
and orphans mOaned increasingly.
When the burial ground was reached
the squaws formed circle about 100
yards in circumference around the wagon,
and outside Of this circle twelve squaws
We're stationed at intervals of few feet,
to keep away evil spirits by giving vent
TO unearthly screeches. Beyond these
there were about l,j bucks on horseback
laughing, chatting and trading horses.
After the circle had been formed White
Buffalo, heSd chief of the Poncas. came
forward and in the Ponca tongue delivered
aE GRAFTON on the deceased. At its CON
clusion the mOurners who in the mean
time had kept their seats i'll the wagon,
picked up the four corners of the blanket
on which reposed the corpse, and giving il
Il toss threw the body to the ground. Then
the widow went 10 the rear of the wagon
and gathered up some ''culls - Or refuse
lumber, which she deposited by the side oi
her dead spouse.
During this time an Omaha Indian who
had entered the squaw circle kept filing
IL l. I
mourners continued their mourning. As
the Omaha brave had finished filing his
saw, he began making a receptacle for the
remains out of the culls. This receptacle
was in the form of II chicken coop, being
eight feet long and five feet wide and
about five high, securely fastened to the
ground 10y posts. Into this she body,
covered with the blanket and other earthly
possessions of the deceased, WAS laid.
A foot race was then announced by the
bucks on the outside of the circle. -Four
almost naked Indians were the partici.
pants. Then followed a two mile horse
race, in which there We're eighteen partici-
pants, all Of whom had painted their faces
in u hideous manner. Riding OF the re
quIrcd distance, the chief then signaled
for the start with a looking glass At fun
itthitSS Itil EllltES.
As they neared the circle the entire body
of 400 Indians set up terrific howl, and
as the horses came i'll past them the ex-
citement was intense. During the races
the body was entirely disrobed. There
Were four prizes in each event-a jacket,
a pipe and tobaccn~bag and two blankets
The winner Of the first prize was given
his choice of prizes, the second second
choice, the third third choice and the
fourth fourth
After the horse race the attention Of the
aSsemblage WAS once more given to the dead
chief. The chicken coop tomb having
been constructed, the body Of Wa-si -ka
was thrown inside and the ends Were
closed up SO as to prevent any animal
from entering and carrying OF the body
A horse and two calves, the property Of
the deceased, We're also laid in the tomb
i'll order that he might enjoy them in the
happy hunting ground. This ended the
ceremony.-Arkansas City tkan) Cor
Kansas City Times.